Umpires 'strike' as teen player's ban reduced

Umpires in a country football league are taking protest action for this weekend over reduction of a ban for a 14-year-old boy who punched an umpire.

Jyrah Miller has had his suspension cut from five years to three on appeal to the SANFL tribunal.

A further five-year suspended sentence also was overturned by the tribunal over the incident in a match between Encounter Bay and Mount Compass, south of Adelaide.

The tribunal decision has disappointed umpires in the Great Southern Football League, who have met to discuss their response.

Umpires' president Mark Jensen says action will be taken to counter the message that now has been sent to junior players.

"The emotions ranged from looking after the game that we all love and to also sending a strong message. What was decided was for this weekend the umpires have made themselves unavailable for selection in junior colts and senior colts football matches in the Great Southern footy league," he said.

Mr Jensen thinks the SANFL handled the matter poorly once it got involved.

"We feel the Great Southern footy league handled it pretty well in that initial penalty and to have it reduced to three years, which as a group we didn't feel was sufficient, we really have to consider the environment that we put our umpires in."